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50 Unbelievable Women and Their Fascinating (and True!) Stories
From Tina Fey to Vera Wang, and Oprah Winfrey to Maria TallChief, 50 incredible ladies who shaped our history!"The arrangement of contemporary figures alongside those from the distant past should help give readers the sense that history is unfolding all around them."--Publishers WeeklyA compilation of biographies profiling some of the most intrepid women in history and today. From athletes, comediennes, and TV personalities, to world leaders, political figures, and activists, these women paved the way for future generations and have proven that hard work and passion will help you achieve just about anything. Chock full of interesting facts and bursts of trivia, plus a glossary and a fun quiz are sure to entertain and inform!
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2016
11 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Saundra Mitchell
30 books577 followersSaundra Mitchell is the author of SHADOWED SUMMER, THE VESPERTINE, THE SPRINGSWEET, THE ELEMENTALS, MISTWALKER, and ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK. In non-fiction, she’s the author of the non-fiction THEY DID WHAT!? series for middle grade readers. Her first adult novel, THIS SIDE OF GONE, will be published by William Morrow in January 2026.
She’s also the co-author of the CAMP MURDERFACE series with Josh Berk, and the editor of four YA anthologies: DEFY THE DARK, ALL OUT, OUT NOW, and OUT THERE. She also adapted the hit Broadway Musical THE PROM for teen readers!
Mitchell writes under multiple pen names, including Jessa Holbrook (WHILE YOU’RE AWAY,) Alex Mallory (WILD,) and Rory Harrison (LOOKING FOR GROUP.)
SHADOWED SUMMER was the 2010 winner of The Society of Midland Authors Book Award for Children’s Fiction and a 2010 Edgar® Award Nominee. It was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection and an ALAN Pick in 2009. In 2020, ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK was a Lambda Finalist, and the winner of the Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Fiction.
Her short story “Ready to Wear” was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Prize after appearing in Vestal Review Issue 27. Her short fiction and non-fiction has appeared in anthologies including TRANSMOGRIFY!, FORESHADOW, YOU TOO?, A TYRANNY OF PETTICOATS, FORETOLD, and DEAR BULLY.
For twenty years, she was the head screenwriter and an executive producer with Dreaming Tree Films on their various teen filmmaking programs, including the largest teen filmmaking program in the United States, Fresh Films. They produced more than four hundred films from her screenplays, and she earned Academy Award eligibility ten times during her tenure.
In other arenas, Ms. Mitchell was interviewed by the New York Times and the BBC for her part in exposing the Kaycee Nicole hoax, and she’s been tapped by morning radio shows all over the United States as a guest expert on Urban Legends & Folklore.
In her free time, she enjoys fandom, studying history, playing ttrpgs and video games, and spending time with her wife and daughters. Her pronouns are she/they.
She’s also the co-author of the CAMP MURDERFACE series with Josh Berk, and the editor of four YA anthologies: DEFY THE DARK, ALL OUT, OUT NOW, and OUT THERE. She also adapted the hit Broadway Musical THE PROM for teen readers!
Mitchell writes under multiple pen names, including Jessa Holbrook (WHILE YOU’RE AWAY,) Alex Mallory (WILD,) and Rory Harrison (LOOKING FOR GROUP.)
SHADOWED SUMMER was the 2010 winner of The Society of Midland Authors Book Award for Children’s Fiction and a 2010 Edgar® Award Nominee. It was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection and an ALAN Pick in 2009. In 2020, ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK was a Lambda Finalist, and the winner of the Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Fiction.
Her short story “Ready to Wear” was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Prize after appearing in Vestal Review Issue 27. Her short fiction and non-fiction has appeared in anthologies including TRANSMOGRIFY!, FORESHADOW, YOU TOO?, A TYRANNY OF PETTICOATS, FORETOLD, and DEAR BULLY.
For twenty years, she was the head screenwriter and an executive producer with Dreaming Tree Films on their various teen filmmaking programs, including the largest teen filmmaking program in the United States, Fresh Films. They produced more than four hundred films from her screenplays, and she earned Academy Award eligibility ten times during her tenure.
In other arenas, Ms. Mitchell was interviewed by the New York Times and the BBC for her part in exposing the Kaycee Nicole hoax, and she’s been tapped by morning radio shows all over the United States as a guest expert on Urban Legends & Folklore.
In her free time, she enjoys fandom, studying history, playing ttrpgs and video games, and spending time with her wife and daughters. Her pronouns are she/they.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 20, 2020
A wonderful concept and generally very compelling. However, at several points throughout the book (generally under the headings “Hard core battle queens” or “Mad, bad, and dangerous”) the author gives the stories of women who were mass murderers or started wars. These women are portrayed by the author as heroes for doing something that is generally done by men. Just because a given act is generally committed by men does not necessarily mean that women should aspire to it! It is really a shame because otherwise this book was very enjoyable, even as an adult.
December 21, 2025
Wonderful book that describes some amazing women from history and today. Saundra Mitchell tells history the way that I used to teach it— history is stories about people. I enjoyed reading about these women, some of whom history has forgotten, all of them were surprising and none of them were timid and demure.
So much of history that is taught in schools is his story, I am so happy that books are being published to tell us her story. A fun little quiz is included in the back of the book. I also liked the portraits throughout the book by Cara Petrus. This book would be enjoyed by middle readers and older.
So much of history that is taught in schools is his story, I am so happy that books are being published to tell us her story. A fun little quiz is included in the back of the book. I also liked the portraits throughout the book by Cara Petrus. This book would be enjoyed by middle readers and older.
July 2, 2017
I was searching for something to read, and ended up in my daughter's room. I found this book. It was an easy read-very age appropriate for an early reader. I'm not typically fond of biographies, but this one had a collection of numerous people from different eras, all with short stories written for each. It made it easy to stay interested, and gave enough information that if I was particularly intrigued about an individual-I could do additional research elsewhere for more of the story.
January 9, 2018
The book I read was 50 Unbelievable Women and their Fascinating (and true!) Stories by Saundra Mitchell (2016). This book is a historical biography based on women all throughout history. It was a fairly quick read for me because I was very interested in what female history figures have done.
This is a very educational book for readers learning about historical events. The reading age range would be from ten to sixteen. It gives very good short and sweet explanations of which woman did what. I enjoyed this because I learned many new things reading these short stories. Each story was just the right amount of length to keep things intriguing and easy to read.
The theme of the stories was women empowerment. I would say the theme is women empowerment because they focus on all the great accomplishments that these women have completed in their lives. If young girls were to read this book they would feel like they can make something with their lives. The book has many powerful women who have impacted history worldwide. For example, Madam C. J. Walker, Vera Wang, Marie Curie, and Anna May Wong. Throughout the book, readers learn about a new unbelievable and fascinating woman from many years ago, to present day. The most intriguing woman I read about was Catherine the Great. Catherine chose to become Russian. She embraced her new people and her new way of living. She became the best empress in their history.
This was an amazing book if you are in the need for a quick history lesson. I would give this book a 4.5/5 stars. There was nothing wrong with the book but I can’t give it a 5/5 because it is not one of the best books I have read. I really liked how it is concise and gets right to the point. There is no “fluff” or wasted space when reading this book.
This is a very educational book for readers learning about historical events. The reading age range would be from ten to sixteen. It gives very good short and sweet explanations of which woman did what. I enjoyed this because I learned many new things reading these short stories. Each story was just the right amount of length to keep things intriguing and easy to read.
The theme of the stories was women empowerment. I would say the theme is women empowerment because they focus on all the great accomplishments that these women have completed in their lives. If young girls were to read this book they would feel like they can make something with their lives. The book has many powerful women who have impacted history worldwide. For example, Madam C. J. Walker, Vera Wang, Marie Curie, and Anna May Wong. Throughout the book, readers learn about a new unbelievable and fascinating woman from many years ago, to present day. The most intriguing woman I read about was Catherine the Great. Catherine chose to become Russian. She embraced her new people and her new way of living. She became the best empress in their history.
This was an amazing book if you are in the need for a quick history lesson. I would give this book a 4.5/5 stars. There was nothing wrong with the book but I can’t give it a 5/5 because it is not one of the best books I have read. I really liked how it is concise and gets right to the point. There is no “fluff” or wasted space when reading this book.
May 15, 2017
what a shame that we don't learn anything about women in History at school... Hopefully people will discover some of these amazing person while reading simple books like this one !
i talk about it in French here :
http://queerworldqueerwords.blogspot....
i talk about it in French here :
http://queerworldqueerwords.blogspot....
August 24, 2019
I enjoyed reading about the many ways a variety of women have changed history, and left their mark. From empress, to pharaohs and even people we know today. If you want to do something go for it, all these women have no matter what blocks came in their way.
June 30, 2017
A great overview of some fabulous women from all different walks of life, time periods, and ethnic backgrounds. Quick read and highly enjoyable.
August 18, 2017
A really interesting book that shows the incredible stories of women from all around the world!
June 8, 2019
Amazing women!
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April 8, 2023read
March 2, 2017
It always amazes me when I read/learn more about women in history that I never learned about in high school or college.
I will always make time to read more about strong and accomplished women.
I will always make time to read more about strong and accomplished women.
November 5, 2018
I grew up in a family of strong and influential women. At least, they were to me. All throughout grade school, junior high (what’s now called Middle School), high school, and even into college, all we ever read about were the men of history. This is a book that I think should be on every schools reading list. It touches on some truly interesting women throughout all of history.
Much like a good anthology, 50 Unbelievable Women delivers up a wonderful sampling of all of these women. Some might find the snippets of biography to be perhaps too short, but I feel they are the perfect size for young readers. They are informative and tempting, drawing the reader in to want to keep reading, but also to explore outside of the book as well.
This is encouraged by Mitchell in her inclusion of not just a massive Bibliography, but also in the recommended reading list. One of the things that doesn’t tend to end up in books of this nature is a vocabulary guide that she has very helpfully included.
While the book states 50 women, there are actually quite a few little extras thrown into the mix. These include “Firsts” like the first woman to run for President of the United States. It was actually much further back in history than I had imagined; 1872! There’s a fun quiz at the back to see “Which Fabulous Lady of History” you are.
When kids have come into the library and grumbled about having to read a non-fiction book, I will often grab this book and flip it to page 161 to have them read about a truly bad ass Viking named Olga of Kiev. Just a word of warning… Never try to force a Viking Princess to marry someone she doesn’t want to.
This book is also a great little source of material for kids that are working on those assignments and need that one more source to cite. More than anything though, it’s a really fun and fascinating read about some incredible people that are hardly ever talked about.
Much like a good anthology, 50 Unbelievable Women delivers up a wonderful sampling of all of these women. Some might find the snippets of biography to be perhaps too short, but I feel they are the perfect size for young readers. They are informative and tempting, drawing the reader in to want to keep reading, but also to explore outside of the book as well.
This is encouraged by Mitchell in her inclusion of not just a massive Bibliography, but also in the recommended reading list. One of the things that doesn’t tend to end up in books of this nature is a vocabulary guide that she has very helpfully included.
While the book states 50 women, there are actually quite a few little extras thrown into the mix. These include “Firsts” like the first woman to run for President of the United States. It was actually much further back in history than I had imagined; 1872! There’s a fun quiz at the back to see “Which Fabulous Lady of History” you are.
When kids have come into the library and grumbled about having to read a non-fiction book, I will often grab this book and flip it to page 161 to have them read about a truly bad ass Viking named Olga of Kiev. Just a word of warning… Never try to force a Viking Princess to marry someone she doesn’t want to.
This book is also a great little source of material for kids that are working on those assignments and need that one more source to cite. More than anything though, it’s a really fun and fascinating read about some incredible people that are hardly ever talked about.
Read
January 31, 2017I read this along with my 5th grader. He found it fascinating and said it was the most interesting non-science non-fiction book he's read this year. I enjoyed reading it along with him. Many of the names were familiar to me, but there were a few new amazing women in the bunch as well as new information about some of the women I did know. However, It's a bit light on information. For being a middle grade book, it could have been a little more in-depth.
My only real complaint is the bio on Oprah. Not only does it get the origin of her name a bit mixed, but it includes information about sexual assault...a topic I did not necessarily find appropriate for this age (personal opinion for my child...not a blanket statement for other people's children). We skipped over that one and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the book.
My only real complaint is the bio on Oprah. Not only does it get the origin of her name a bit mixed, but it includes information about sexual assault...a topic I did not necessarily find appropriate for this age (personal opinion for my child...not a blanket statement for other people's children). We skipped over that one and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the book.
August 27, 2016
Suitable for a 4th-8th grade reading level. Useful as a starting point for children who have no concept of women accomplishing anything throughout history; features women from several time periods, countries, and backgrounds.
However, it will be necessary to supplement this book with something of greater depth - not only because the few pages allotted to each woman have no room for any nuance, but also because the unceasing perkiness used to discuss everyone results in a rather one-note book. The diverse personalities of these women are more or less effaced by the bubbly magazine tone.
I did learn that Murasaki Shikibu is my historical twin, thanks to the quiz in the back, so that’s...illuminating.
However, it will be necessary to supplement this book with something of greater depth - not only because the few pages allotted to each woman have no room for any nuance, but also because the unceasing perkiness used to discuss everyone results in a rather one-note book. The diverse personalities of these women are more or less effaced by the bubbly magazine tone.
I did learn that Murasaki Shikibu is my historical twin, thanks to the quiz in the back, so that’s...illuminating.
August 5, 2018
This book was really informative and inspiring and interesting. It gave me motivation to try to make a change. It was diverse, which is amazing. It has people from way back in the day, to our current time.
February 7, 2017
Quick and easy reading on some extraordinary women of our past and present!
July 4, 2017
I was surprised at how many of these incredible women I had never heard of. And WOW, Olga of Kiev is AWESOME.
January 14, 2023
History is my favorite subject
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews